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17 December 2012

Back to Basics: Making a Quality Quilt

Back to Basics:
Making a Quality Quilt

Making a quilt can be fun, particularly if you enjoy
sewing. There is a difference, however, to making a quilt with a sewing machine
versus making one with your own two hands. Believe it or not, this is entirely
possible. In order to make a quality quilt from scratch, you can use
scraps of old material left over from other sewing projects, or you can always
purchase fabric. Either way, you can make a beautiful block-style quality
quilt all by yourself easily. It just takes time, patience, and effort. You can even get your kids involved by teaching them how to sew with this tutorialon using a sewing machine.

Follow these simple steps:

1.Choose Your Quilting Pattern: You
can think of your own, or even go on the internet for some interesting ideas.
Make sure that if you do end up picking fabric up from the store, you don't end
up purchasing a type that will end up fading or shrinking.

2.Purchase the Batting: The
batting is basically the filler in the quilt. The thicker it is, the thicker
and thus the warmer your quilt will end up being. You'll also need to pick up
some backing material. This will be used for the underside of the quilt. Keep
in mind that depending on the actual pattern, it's always possible to use a
sheet as your backing.

·Note: Make
sure that the back material is about 3 or 4 inches larger than your quilt size.

3.Cut Out Your Blocks:
You can usually follow the directions of the pattern as you cut out the blocks
for the quilt. Make sure that you cut out the appropriate number of blocks for
each type and color of your fabric.

4.Sew Blocks: Now
you'll want to sew the blocks together in order to form strips. Simply use
about a ¼ inch seam allowance. Once you've completed the strips, sew together
the strips in order to form your quilt's body.

5.Lay 3 Layers of Quilt on Top: Take
3 layers of your quilt and lie one on top of the other. From there, place your
backing material on the bottom, and follow the top of the quilt (or your blocks
that are sewn together) face down on the top of the backing. Then put your
backing material on top.

6.Sew the Layers Together: Now
you'll need to sew your layers together. If you use a sewing machine, be sure
to sew around three of the sides of the quilt. Now, on the fourth side, you
will want to leave a 2 foot opening.

7.Flip the Quilt and Finish:
You should now flip over your quilt and finish sewing the edge of it by hand.
You'll need to turn your quilt inside out now, as this will bring the top to
the outside, and put the batting material in the center where it belongs. After
you’ve flipped it (so that the layers of the quilt are in the appropriate order),
baste the opening by hand in order to close the seam shut.

8.Sew Layers: Now
you sew your layers together. This is basically considered the quilting
process. Use a contrasting or matching thread (whichever you prefer), and then
begin from the quilt’s middle and work your way outward. You can use a sewing
machine or do it by hand. Go from one end of the quilt to the other in either
curved or straight lines (again, that depends on your preference).